MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Investigators are piecing together information from two young girls to track down a man who’s allegedly trying to lure kids into his car.
West Virginia State Police interviewed a 12-year-old on Tuesday who said a man approached her at her bus stop on Tyrone Road in Monongalia County.
A grade-schooler in Morgantown had also told city police a similar story. That incident was near Dorsey Avenue and Avalon Street in Morgantown Nov. 12.
“He attempted to shake the hand of an 8-year-old girl. There was no indication of him trying to forcibly pull her into a car or anything of that nature. But, because of a similar description of the state police’s attempt, it warrants further investigation,” Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston told Hoppy Kercheval on MetroNews “Talkline”.
Both girls described a mixed-race man with a dark red car.
“What we have is a personalized where the last three characters of the license plate would be “LLY”. Not only do we have a mixed race man, at the time last week, he had a goatee and spoke with an accent. But, very distinctly he has a tattoo on his left forearm,” described Preston.
The incident reported by the 8-year-old was 5 days prior to the 12-year-old girl’s accusations.
But, city police released information in that investigation after the state police report.
“We only had partial information. The follow-up information, it was more. So, as information has become available and I’ve become aware of it, we’ve put the information out there,” according to the police chief.
The girls have no connection according to police.
“Even if it was something taken out of context we’re still going to find out who it was and what the circumstances are,” Preston said. “We’re talking about safety of children. You never underestimate and never take for granted. That’s where we and the state police and everyone else is at. We’re taking it as a very serious threat.”
Investigators with Morgantown City Police and West Virginia State Police ask anyone with information to call local law enforcement.
State police: 304-285-3200
Morgantown police: 304-284-7522